Chapter 6: A Better Way

"They were clearly stalling for time," Kakashi said as he examined the body Itachi used to fight.

"They've sure got a good jutsu," said Sakura. "I never realized you were fighting against people like this, Naruto."

"Using a jutsu like this to stall us means they're undoubtedly already extracting the tailed beast!" said Chiyo. "We don't have time. We must save Gaara right away."

Sakura appeared surprised. "E-Excuse me-"

"Hm?"

"What do you mean extract the tailed beast?"

"It's likely that they're intention is to create a new jinchuriki using the One-Tail, Shukaku."

"Jinchuriki?"

"Someone who houses a tailed beast inside of them," I said. "Like Naruto and Gaara."

"That is correct," said Chiyo. "I explained before how the tailed beasts possess a power beyond human comprehension, didn't I? And how each land attempted to use them as military weapon? The jinchuriki is what you might call the one who controls that power."

"But earlier you said the tailed beasts have immense chakra," said Sakura, "and, in the world of ninja, were used for military purposes by Hidden Villages around the world. They competed to get their hands on them. But none was able to control that power which had surpassed human intelligence."

"In the end, that is. But in the past, there were those who attempted to control that power. They attempted to control the tailed beast by sealing it inside people. By doing so, they tried to suppress the extreme power of the tailed beast and then control that power. As Katsumi said, the ones with the tailed beast sealed within them, in other words, people like Gaara, were called the jinchuriki. The striking feature of the jinchuriki is how it utilizes unbelievable power by resonating with the tailed beast. Including Gaara, there have been three jinchuriki in the history of the Sand."

"So, wars were fought often using the jinchuriki?"

"That's right."

"Is that why the Leaf Village has kept everything about this a secret?" I asked.

"After it was deemed impossible to control the tailed beast, the jinchuriki were treated with the same scorn as the beasts themselves. I imagine the village leaders were attempting to lessen this fate by hiding it from the younger generation."

I thought about that for a moment. "Well, if that was their goal, I can kind of understand, but it failed horribly. The older generation still knew, and the younger generation picked up on it." I shook my head. "There has to be a better way."

"We will find one with time," said Kakashi.

I nodded. "Good."

"The people who've been turned into a jinchuriki, how can the tailed beast be extracted?" Sakura asked.

"What's required is a sealing jutsu with the ability to instantaneously balance the power of the tailed beast, in addition to plenty of time," said Chiyo.

"But if that's done, the Jinchuriki-" Sakura paused, appearing worried. "Don't tell me-"

"That's right. The Jinchuriki that has his tailed beast extracted dies. The two people I mentioned earlier, the Sand jinchuriki other than Gaara, both had the Shukaku within them extracted and died as a result."

Sakura turned to Naruto. She opened her mouth to speak, but he said, "You're sentimental as always, huh? Sakura, don't worry. I'll be saving Gaara!

"I-I was concerned about you!" Sakura said, flushing.

"Let's hurry." Naruto ran ahead, and the rest of us were left to follow.

"Naruto..."

We continued on our way. After awhile, Kakashi ordered us to stop. "What is it, Kakashi Sensei?" said Sakura.

"We're going to take a short break here," said Kakashi.

"That's a wise decision," said Chiyo.

"Why?" Naruto said anxiously. "You're the one who said we don't have time! If we waste time taking a break here, Gaara will be-"

"Compared to right before we encountered the fake Itachi, our pace has clearly slowed," said Kakashi.

"He's absolutely right," said Chiyo. "If we rest up here, ultimately we'll reach our destination faster."

"And tomorrow, we might end up fighting the guys who took Gaara. It's best if we're at full strength."

"Fine," Naruto grumbled. I looked at him in worry. I could feel his anger growing, and I hoped he could contain it once we caught up to Gaara and the Akatsuki.

We continued on the trail after a few hours of rest. Despite our gains in ground, I still could not sense Gaara or anyone else. That the Akatsuki had not met us to stop us showed that they thought they had enough time to accomplish their goal. Would we be too late? I tried not to think about it and instead busied myself by talking to Kiku and the others. I asked Chiyo about Sasori several times, but only when we took up the rear did she finally speak about him.

"He was different when he was young," she said. "He was a good boy."

"What happened?" I asked.

"His parents died in the line of duty. I'm afraid he learned some hard lessons much too soon."

"Did you raise him?" said Kiku.

"Yes. I did the best I could. I taught him all about puppet jutsu..."

"But it wasn't enough," I said softly.

"No." Chiyo appeared sad as she spoke.

"It wasn't your fault," said Kiku. "Sometimes there are factors beyond your control."

"He is the product of his time, yes. That is the way things are."

"He didn't like the rules of the village," I said. "He felt pushed out. I bet he didn't believe the village cared about things that really mattered."

Chiyo dipped her head. "Like life. We view ninja as tools of the village. Now he treats people the same but for the Akatsuki."

"Yes, so you get it. There is not all that much that separates us. We're just on different sides. That's why we have to change things. We have to show everyone there's another way."

"If that were possible-" Chiyo paused. "Would you include people like Sasori in the formation of a new way?"

"Of course. Who better to show us where we're currently going wrong than those who have the biggest problems with the way we do things? It may be too late for some, but others will be willing to work with us."

"You aim high."

"Yes. That is the only way change will be accomplished. I will accept nothing less."

"And I will be right there with you," said Kiku. I smiled at her. I was sure Naruto would be with us as well.

I continued to worry about Naruto. The longer it took the get to Gaara, the more his anger grew. Eventually, he unconsciously tapped into the Nine Tails' power, increasing his stamina and turning his eyes from blue to red. "I hope he'll be alright," I said quietly to no one in particular.

"At least he'll be focused," said Kiku. "You can calm him if he gets too bad, right?"

"I hope so..."

"Why's that kid trying so hard to save Gaara who's from a different village?" said Chiyo. "And what in the world is he?"

"He's also a jinchuriki," said Kakashi. "He has the Nine Tails sealed within him. Indeed, Naruto probably doesn't have much attachment to the Hidden Sand itself. But Gaara is a jinchuriki host just like he is. More than anyone in the Hidden Sand, Naruto knows how Gaara feels. After all, the jinchuriki has been treated the same way in every village. That's exactly why he feels like he has to save Gaara. It doesn't make any difference to him if he's from the Leaf or the Sand. For Naruto, Gaara is a friend who knows the same pain as he does. Naruto's dream is to become the Hokage. He was frustrated when he heard that Gaara had become the Kazekage."

"I see."

"But at the same time, he was also very happy for Gaara from the bottom of his heart. Naruto has a mysterious power. However small the words he exchanges, he makes friends immediately with everyone he meets."

"And what about you?" Chiyo asked me. "Why do you care so much?"

I glanced at Kakashi. When I saw no signs of objection, I decided to tell Chiyo the truth. "I don't come from this world. I was forced to come here because of decisions made from a previous generation. I didn't want anything to do with this place, but Naruto changed that. He showed me that friendship is worth fighting for. I have little loyalty to the Leaf Village for its own sake. What I care about are my friends, no matter where they come from. I still have a lot of problems with this world. I know there's a better way of doing things because they found that way in the world where I come from. People here are not so different."

"Interesting," said Chiyo. "I myself have lived a long life. I've seen many things. And in my own way, I've learned the nature of things in this world. Learning that the alliance with other lands were for show only, what I did was to create resources to protect the Hidden Sand. I'm the one who used the jutsu and forced the possession of the Shukaku on Gaara. After consulting with his father the Fourth Kazekage, that is."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" She was the reason Gaara had to go through so much pain? No, his father was still the main culprit. He could have stopped it.

"I regret it now. What I did to protect the village ended up just hurting it. And now a village I avoided because I couldn't believe in alliances is trying to help us. Everything I've done might have been mistaken. And now I've gotten old and learn to give up easily. Kakashi, young people have so much potential within. I'm so envious."

"Oh no, you're just getting started," said Kakashi. "You're still very much young."

"That's right. There might still be something an old bag like me can do. Something I can do..."

"It's never too late to change," I said. "If someone with so many experiences like you can change, then there is hope for everyone else."

Chiyo grew silent after that. I returned my focus to the mission ahead. Eventually, I was able to discern several figures nearby. "I feel them!" I shouted.

"Feel who?" said Kakashi. Even Naruto slowed to listen to me.

"Team Guy is close. Also, I feel Deidara and Sasori from the Akatsuki."

"What about Gaara?" said Naruto.

I hesitated. I tried reaching out again but felt nothing. My heart sunk. "No." Kakashi and Chiyo exchanged a look.

Sakura gasped. "Does that mean-?"

"We don't know that," said Naruto, anger rising. "All this means is that we're close. Come on!" And he darted off again.

Not long after that, we came across a clearing where a large boulder blocked the entrance to the cave. And outside the cave stood Pakkun, Guy, Lee, Neji, and Tenten. "Deidara and Sasori are inside that cave," I said.

"You're late Kakashi," Guy commented upon our arrival.

"Well, you see." said Kakashi, "we got caught up in something troublesome along the way."

"Naruto!" Lee said excitedly. "Sakura! Katsumi!"

"Kakashi," said Chiyo, "by troublesome, you certainly don't mean me, do you?"

"Hey!" Lee said, coming up to Naruto, who ignored him, appearing agitated. "Naruto, we were just a step behind you guys, huh?"

"I'd leave him alone for now if I were you," I said. "He's not up for small talk."

"Who's the old woman there?" said Guy.

"Oh, this is Lady Chiyo, a consultant to the Sand," said Kakashi.

"Nice to meet you. Now, shall we do this, Kakashi?"

"Yeah."

"Hang on, Gaara," Naruto growled. Fortunately, his anger had subsided for now.

Neji used his Byakugan to see inside the cave. "It looks like there's a large cavern inside," he said, "but-"

"But?" said Naruto.

"I can't really see clearly what's going on inside. It looks like there are several people inside."

"What about Gaara, Neji? What's happening to Gaara?"

"Wait! I'm searching right now!"

"Hey!" Naruto moved around Neji, distracting him.

"Wh-What's that?"

"What is it? Hey!" Naruto grabbed onto Neji, shaking him. "What's in there, Neji?"

"Let go of me." Neji shook Naruto off and ended the jutsu.

"What was in there?"

"It's hard to explain in words, which means-"

"Which means we just have to check it out directly for ourselves, right?"

"That makes things simple," said Guy. He attempted to break the boulder in front of the cave but barely made a dent. He frowned at a piece of paper on the boulder that said 'forbidden.' "A barrier, huh?"

"What's the plan?" said Lee.

"First, we have to remove the barrier, Lee."

"How do we do that?"

"We need to figure out what kind of barrier it is, right?"

"Yeah," said Kakashi, who was examining the seal tag.

"What does it look like to you?"

"This is a Five-Seal Barrier."

"I agree."

"A Five-Seal Barrier?" said Sakura.

"A Five-Seal Barrier is created by placing paper tags with 'forbidden' written on them in five locations in the area," said Kakashi. "There's the Forbidden tag here in front of us and tags in four other locations."

"How can we remove them?"

"We can't remove the barrier unless we remove the tags in all five locations simultaneously."

"It must be done simultaneously, huh?"

"That's right. The barrier can't be removed unless the five tags are removed simultaneously. That's how it's been set up. That tag there, and there are four others."

"Then, where are the other four tags?"

"Neji," said Guy.

"I know," said Neji. "Byakugan!" He took a moment to search for the tags. "I found them!"

"Where are they, Neji?"

"There's one on a boulder. The second one is on the trunk of a tree growing along a riverbank. The third one is on a cliff. The last one is in a forest. Those are the four locations."

"If so, then they are pretty far away."

"What will the signal be?" said Kakashi.

"No problem there!" said Guy. "At that distance we should be able to use wireless radios."

"Wireless radios, huh?" Guy handed radio headsets to Kakashi and each member of his team. "I see."

"Okay, we'll all stay in communication and find the tags with Neji's directions! Now then. Shall we get going?"

It was decided that a member of team Guy would find the remaining four seals while Kakashi took the one in front of us. After a weird chant, the ninja set off.

"Well, it's time for me to get going," said Pakkun. "There's no reason for me to be here if I'll just be in the way."

"Good work, Pakkun," said Kakashi.

"Okay, I'm gone I leave the rest to you."

"Right. We got it."

"I'll be waiting to hear from you." The ninja dog disappeared with a puff of smoke.

"Verifying operation," Kakashi said into the headset. "The four members of Team Guy are to stand by once they find their tags! After all members have reached their positions we'll remove the tags all at once on my signal! Got it?" He paused for a response. "Of course, Team Kakashi will remove their tags simultaneously as well. With this, the Five-Seal Barrier will be removed. The moment the barrier is removed Sakura will destroy the boulder at the entrance. That will be our signal to break inside and recover Gaara."

"Gaara..." Naruto murmured.

"Are you going to be alright?" Kiku asked me, rubbing against my leg.

"You don't have to go inside," said Sakura. "Maybe you could keep watch?"

I gave it a moment of thought. I could still feel Deidara and Sasori inside, so I knew we would be confronting them. I was tempted to avoid the encounter all together. I thought about my conversations with Itachi and Obito. Then I remembered the last time I spoke with Deidara. The last words we spoke to each other were words of love. I clutched the clay phoenix around my neck, taking in his chakra. If I did not take this risk, I would regret it for the rest of my life. "It's alright. I've got to do this. I'm ready."

"Good," said Kiku. "I'm with you."

All too soon, Team Guy was in place. Along with Kakashi, they removed the seals at the same time. Then Sakura used her Chakra Enhanced Strength to shatter the boulder. We followed the Button Hook Entry to sneak in. And then I saw them.